Burgos Cathedral - Burgos, Spain - History and Visitor Information Site information Burgos Cathedral HISTORY Burgos Cathedral is a majestic, mainly Gothic cathedral, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in Spain. With its grand proportions as well as a fine collection of religious works of art, Burgos Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Construction of Burgos Cathedral began in 1221 during the reign of King Ferdinand and, whilst it was consecrated in 1260, it was only completed in 1567 and changes continued until 1795. The layout of Burgos Cathedral is of a Latin cross, while the dome of the transept is octagonal in shape. Burgos | Culture Spain Culture Spain Burgos Burgos is a city in the northern part of the country, and one which is not necessarily at the top of anyone’s list if you ask them to name prominent and well-known Spanish cities. Lying almost directly to the north of Madrid, it is one of the historical capitals of Castile and is now the capital of the province of Burgos in the community of Castile & León, with a population of slightly under 200,000.

Steeped in history, Burgos has been the focus of many wars, is the birthplace and final resting place of the 11th century hero ‘El Cid’, and more recently was the base of General Franco’s nationalist government in the Spanish Civil War. Although the winters in Burgos are cold due to the altitude (856m) and distance from the coast, summers are pleasant and warm, with daytime temperatures in the mid 20’s celcius. Served by an airport, a railway station with links to Paris, and a bus station, Burgos also has good motorway links with Madrid to the south and with Bilbao and San Sebastian to the north-east. Burgos is mainly known for its quantity and quality of its gothic churches, but by far the most famous and dominant of these is the world renowned cathedral of Our Lady of Burgos. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries and now designated a World Heritage Site, this magnificent cathedral dominates the city and skyline of Burgos and also houses the tomb of the heroic ‘El Cid’.

In contrast to its gothic past, however, Burgos is now a leader amongst European cities in the field of sustainable mobility and transportation, winning various awards – amongst them the Energy Globe Award in 2008 (the Nobel sustainability awards) – and boasts a free bicycle loan system, 100% clean public transport and is striving towards a car-free city centre. Burgos is a good stopping off point on a touring holiday for those arriving in the country at the northern ferry ports of Bilbao and Santander and travelling on to Madrid, lying as it does within striking distance of all these cities, but there are attractions in the surrounding area of the city as well, particularly at Atapuerta some 15kms to the east. Here is to be found a particularly important archaeological site containing prehistoric tools and bones relating to the earliest known humans in Europe, dating back some 1.2m years. The site is of such importance that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, and is still under major investigation. Living in Burgos, Working in Burgos, Property in Burgos , Social Media in Spain Be Sociable, Share!

Burgos Cathedral in Burgos, Spain: Monuments in Burgos | spain.info in english Accessibility. Accessible environments and services in Spain. Description One of the finest examples of Spanish Gothic art. This cathedral is outstanding for the elegance and harmony of its architecture, and it is the only one in Spain which, for its cathedral building alone, has received the UNESCO World Heritage designation. Although it is predominantly Gothic, the cathedral also displays other artistic styles, given that it was built over a period lasting from 1221 to 1795. Its main façade is the Puerta del Perdón, with a starred rose-window and a gallery of statues of the Castile monarchs. On either side are its 84-metre towers, crowned by magnificent 15th century spires with open stonework traceries. Its most beautiful group of sculptures, however, is to be found on the Puerta del Sarmental façade, with the image of a Pantocrator surrounded by the apostles and evangelists. Inside, special mention should be made of the dome of the main nave, topped with a beautiful Mudejar vault.

Beneath it lie the remains of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as “El Cid Campeador”, and his wife, Doña Jimena. Close by you will find the beautiful Escalera Dorada (golden staircase) by Diego de Siloé, built in the 16th century and inspired in the Italian Renaissance. In the side-naves of the cathedral there are 19 chapels, with the Condestable and Santa Tecla chapels standing out especially. There are also valuable works of art to be enjoyed: a unique collection that includes altarpieces, paintings, choir stalls, tombs and sculptures, amongst other objects. Construction: Cathedral Artistic period: Gothic Historic period: 13th century Setting: Church of Santa Gadea, Church of San Gil, Entrance of Santa María, Arch of Fernándo González, Solar del Cid. Practical information From 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM Prices Burgos Cathedral Tourist Information, Facts & Location - View Larger Map The Burgos Cathedral is located in Burgos, Spain. The cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and constructed in a Gothic style in the year 1567.

Over the centuries a number of structures were added to it. The cathedrals construction was commissioned by the Costa del Sol Emperor Ferdinand III. The construction of the cathedral was started in the year 1221 on the site of a Romanesque cathedral. The construction of the massive altar was completed in the year 1260 and the construction of the entire cathedral was completed in the year 1567. The cathedral is bordered by towers and the spires are wrapped with stonework traceries. The front part of the cathedral features three storeys and three entrances with high arches. The upper storey features statues on pedestals, stone carvings, double arched windows and the statue of Virgin Mary in the middle. The wide isles and cruciform floorplan is hidden by the chapels built in the 14th century. The three main doors at the entrance feature two outstanding ornamented towers. In addition the chapels, altars and monuments in the cathedral are of great historical importance. The statue of the Papamoscas is one of the major attractions here and the statue opens its mouth when the bells are ringed for each hour.

The octagonal chapel in the cathedral was built in a Flamboyant Gothic style and it was specially built for the graves of Emperor of Castile and his family and Pedro Fernandez de Velasco. The Burgos Cathedral is the burial place of the military leader Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar. In 1984 the Burgos Cathedral was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Leave a Reply Top Ten Cathedrals to see before you die | Life of an Architect Life of an Architect You are here: Home / Observations / Ten Cathedrals to see before you die Ten Cathedrals to see before you die April 19, 2011 by Bob Borson 146 Comments This is a topic that has been sitting in my draft box for almost a year – and I thought I should finish it up. Originally I was going to title this the “Top 10 Cathedrals You Should See Before You Stop Seeing Cathedrals” because that’s really what this list is – churches worth going to and checking out – but that title isn’t very good. The list could also have been 100 cathedrals long – I had a hard time stopping with the ones on this list.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that this is not my list of the top ten cathedrals, rather it is the first ten cathedrals on this list. Another reason this post sat in the ‘draft’ section for so long is that I would rather write a single post on each of these cathedrals – except I haven’t been to all of these cathedrals before. That also means I had to go get other people’s photo’s (which I hate doing) to show you what these buildings looked like. I have seen a few of these in person and they are all magnificent … well worth the effort to see them before you stop making the effort to see things. Right, enough of that, let’s get started. Feel free to add a cathedral to the list in the comment section. I would be interested in hearing what cathedrals you would have put one here (if any). Oh – and for the record, there can only be one cathedral per city for all you La Sainte-Chapelle fans (but feel free to list churches, chapels and the lot as you wish). .

Nidaros Cathedral Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway Work on the Nidaros Cathedral began in 1070 and was finished sometime around 1300. This is a good example of a Romanesque and Gothic style cathedral and the only one I could think of in Norway. Nidaros Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Norway and is regarded both as a national shrine and a coronation church. Together with the Archbishop’s Palace, it is one of the largest tourist attractions in the country. Not really sure that’s a good thing but since I’m half Norwegian I can say stuff like that…. image courtesy Merowig Flickr stream . Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Sagrada Familia) Barcelona, Spain Sagrada Família is a large Roman Catholic church (not a cathedral but I am including it anyways) in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI.

Though construction of Sagrada Família had commenced in 1882, Gaudí became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style—combining Gothic and curvilinear, Art Nouveau forms with ambitious structural columns and arches. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project and at the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Sagrada Família’s construction progressed slowly as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War—only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the mid-point in 2010 with some of the project’s greatest challenges remainingand an anticipated completion date of 2026—the centennial of Gaudí’s death. The completion of the spires will make Sagrada Família the tallest church building in the world as well as the church with the tallest spire in the world. image courtesy Wolfgang Staudt Flickr stream image courtesy Perrimoon Flickr stream .

Notre Dame de Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral) Paris, France Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe, and the naturalism of its sculptures and stained glass are in contrast with earlier Romanesque architecture. The first period of construction from 1163 into the 1240’s coincided with the musical experiments of the Notre Dame school. Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave, but after the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic style) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral’s architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern. The cathedral was essentially complete by 1345. I took about a million pictures of this cathedral when I was there in the Summer of 2009, there are so many beautiful things to look at here. Even at 6 years old (then) my daughter enjoyed exploring around this cathedral. .

Santa Maria del Fiore (Cathedral of Florence) Florence, Italy Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral of Florence, is built as a basilica, having a wide central nave of four square bays, with an aisle on either side. The chancel and transepts are of identical polygonal plan, separated by two smaller polygonal chapels. The whole plan forms a Latin cross. The nave and aisles are separated by wide pointed Gothic arches resting on composite piers. The dimensions of the building are enormous: 502 feet long, 124 feet wide, and 295 feet at the crossing. The height of the arches in the aisles is an amazing 75 feet, and the height from pavement to the opening of the lantern in the dome is also 295 tall. I have been in this cathedral several times and I am always amazed at the proportions of the dome and the building. There are all sorts of ingenious engineering feats that went into building a dome this large, far too many to cover here.

The thing that I do recall most fondly about these stories is that Filippo Brunelleschi, one of the most renown architects and engineers from the Italian Renaissance, didn’t produce a complete documents on how to actually build his design so that he could maintain control over the builders during construction. Scoreboard! image courtesy MarcusObal Flickr stream . Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres (Chartres Cathedral) Chartres, France What makes the Chartres Cathedral special from an art historical viewpoint is its exceptional state of preservation. The majority of the original stained glass windows survive intact, while the architecture has seen only minor changes since the early 13th century. The building’s exterior is dominated by heavy flying buttresses which allowed the architects to increase the window size significantly, while the west end is dominated by two contrasting spires — one, a 349 foott plain pyramid dating from the 1140s, and the other a 377 foot tall early 16th century spire on top of an older tower. Equally notable are the three great facades, each adorned with hundreds of sculpted figures illustrating key theological themes and narratives.

The Chartres Cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of the French High Gothic style. image courtesy Merowig Flickr stream . Hagia Sophia Cathedral Istanbul, Turkey Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey and is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. There is an incredibly long and complex history associated with the cathedral but of particular note is the size of the building itself and the complex structure of the vast interior. The nave is covered by a central dome 182′-5″ from floor level, supported in part by an arcade of 40 arched windows. Repairs to structure have left the dome somewhat elliptical – with the diameter varying between 102′-6″ and 101′-3″. That is really, really big – particularly so when you think thaat the walls holding up that dome have more mortar in them than masonry. In fact, I think this was the largest cathedral in the world until The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See (Seville Cathedral) was built some 1,000 years later.

image courtesy onerty Flickr stream image courtesy Jaime Crawley (@falloutstudio) . Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Galicia, Spain I don’t really know anything about this cathedral other than I remember it from my college days. It is a mixture of Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic and was built between 1075 and 1211. If you are a religious person, the cathedral is significant and has been part of a major historical pilgrimage route since the Middle Ages because it is the reputed burial-place of Saint James the Greater, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. The cathedral is impressive in size as well – measuring 318 feet long and 72 feet high. The interior preserves its original barrel-vaulted cruciform Romanesque style layout – meaning it consists of a nave, two lateral aisles, a wide transept and a choir with radiating chapels. Compared with many other important churches, the interior of this cathedral gives a first impression of austerity until one enters further and sees the magnificent organ and the exuberance of the choir. This cathedral, through its monumental dimensions, is the largest Romanesque church in Spain and even one of the largest in Europe.

image courtesy slideshow bob Flickr stream . Winchester Cathedral Winchester, England Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe. This is another cathedral that I don’t know anything about – other than Jane Austen is buried here in the North aisle of the nave and the gravestone marker doesn’t list her as an author since most of her work was published after she died. Makes me wonder how she got there in the first place. I really wanted to include a cathedral in England on this list and since I’ve actually been to Saint Paul’s church in London, I’m thinking I should have gone with that obvious selection. I think Winchester is a beautiful example of Gothic Architecture – maybe someone who has been there can stand up for this building. Based on the image below, the interior really does look spectacular. image courtesy Charles D P Miller Flickr stream . image courtesy David Spender Flickr stream . The Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat (Saint Basil’s Cathedral) Moscow, Russia Saint Basil’s Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox church erected on the Red Square in Moscow in 1555–1561.

The most interesting piece of information regarding this cathedral is that the building’s design, shaped as a flame of a bonfire rising into the sky, has no analogues in Russian architecture. What?! That’s right. There is no documented precedent for this style of architecture in Russia. Other than that, you know that this cathedral had to be on the list – it had to! I’m sure that many of the people who might accidentally read this post – regardless of where they came from – have seen this building before. I would also venture a guess that not one person in a hundred (Russian’s excluded) could have told me the name. A mega-bonus up points if you knew the real name – The Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat – and not just Saint Basil’s. Don’t lie – you didn’t know it. image courtesy Erik Charlton Flickr stream . Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (Washington National Cathedral) Washington D.C., United States Of neogothic design, it is the sixth largest cathedral in the world and the second largest in the United States.

Unlike most of the cathedrals on this list, the Washington National Cathedral was built with many intentional “flaws” in keeping with an apocryphal medieval custom that sought to illustrate that only God can be perfect – most of these flaws are in the form of assymetries. I did a little “research” and read up on this cathedral on wikipedia and found out that there is a sculpture of Darth Vader placed up high in the northwest tower – the result of a competition for children to design decorative sculptures. Really? … Anybody in DC want to send me a picture of that? If I get one, I’ll add it in here for everybody else to see. image courtesy DeusXFlorida Flickr stream . image courtesy eviltomthai Flickr stream . So that’s my inagural list of cathedrals, I tried to spread things out a little so cathedrals here weren’t all in France or Italy. Like I said, there are amazing architectural cathedrals all over the world, probably 100x more that I don’t know about than the ones I do. I’m also sure that I will hear from someone about the over-representation of Romanesque and Gothic style buildings.

Oh well, what can I say? These are the ones that came to mind – feel free to list some of your favorites in the comment section. Cheers → mr_Zu To the St. Basils / Theotos on the moat cathedral – you might Know that both are possible. It contains about 10 churches inside! Thus the tallest central is Theotos on the moat. Also it is associated not only with russian architecture but also with renaissanse architecture in its regular plan. You may just compare the plan of St. Basil’s with the plan of St Peter’s cathedral Vatican. It’s interesting and probably unbelivedle but there is the masterpeace of the renaissans teological and architectural phylosophy in the center of Russian capital. esimpson Since you have seen all of these and I have not, are there agencies that have cathedral tours? Thanks. Amal Thaon I’ve seen most of these. PaP in WDC, which grew in my lifetime, doesn’t know whether it’s English or French; why? because it is simply Academic hubris.

The same criticism can be said of Protestant cathedral in NYC which appears romanesque to gothic by age, but, rather, is a change of mind. Cram’s work is the best. I agree with the inclusion of Palma; it is an engineering masterpiece; it is the most remarkable engineering feat, however inadvertent. I would also stand up for Winchester, solid, modest, but the most perfectly proportioned cathedral in Europe. The nave (50′ IIR), has the most exquisite elevations of any from the interior (which is difficult to see. The perpendicular of Canterbury is spectacular. Cf: Bannister Fletcher’s elevations of Winchester, however; the proportions are exquisite. Really more notable are are Ste Chapelle in Paris, King’s Chapel Cambridge, and the Henry VII chapel at Westminster. To grasp Collegiate Gothic, an American has many choices. The work of Cram, Rogers, Upjohn, and others offers a plethora of excellent examples. And, if Neo-Romanesque is included, H. H. Richardson’s Trinity in Boston is a masterpiece of both proportion and embellishment. Just some humble opinions.

As the greatest architect put it, however, “ten gathered together” is plenty, and may be housed in an open boat in rough waters or, as Big Dick Boner puts it: “Cathedrals are but portals of pretension; one finds God pissing by their burying grounds on a frozen starry night.” America’s most important religious structure is the belfry of Old North Church from which 2 lanterns were hung up for only a minute! but they lit the light of religious (and political) freedom, “the greatest event since the discovery of God,” as Boner put it to his grandsons. Palma, Mallorca Michael Lynch I too would like to suggest Coventry Cathedral. Although not of the scale or grandeur of say Sagrada Familia, or Durham or Lincoln Cathedrals, the two cathedrals of Coventry stood together side by side are a work of art, not least in what that sight represents.

Add to this, the magnificent works of art such as the statue of St Michael and the Devil, the Reconciliation sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellos, John Hutton’s magnificent West Window of Saints and Angels, the font made from a boulder from Bethlehem, the stained glass windows and of course the awe inspiring tapestry of Christ in Glory by John Sutherland: the largest hand woven tapestry in Europe. Furthermore, symbolic pieces such as the original charred timbers from the roof of the old Cathedral, which fell and landed in the form of a cross, and the Cross of Nails which have now become an international symbol and community for peace and reconciliation. If any readers of this comment might have a few minutes to spare, please search for these works of art on the internet and gain an understanding of their meaning. Of course, one must not mention Coventry Cathedral without also referencing the magnificent Frauenkirche in Dresden. Patrick Thanks for this list. But… Why even *suggest* stopping after 10?

There are too many significant cathedrals, and so many different reasons & ways to visit them… Amiens, Leon, le Mans, Aachen, Trier… Please encourage your readers never to stop, and maybe give them some thematic guidance. You’d be giving us a much bigger favor than by stopping at 10. Thanks! Eelco For a a strange reason Assisi’s Basilica (Francesco’s) is missing in the entire discussion (because it is a basilica?). Even the most tarnished fresco’s in the lower church are beautiful. Assisi’s’ real Cathedral is also a beauty. And Le Corbusiers Notre dame du Haut chapel cannot be missed as well. And last but not least the Basilica San Vitale in Ravenna with he best mosaics I have ever seen. Reg Prescott Cologne in Germany, Antwerp in Belgium and Orleans in France are all great cathedrals. Of the ones I’ve been to in Europe (mainland), I really like Notre-Dame and St. Chapelle in Paris (not stricly speaking a cathedral but I’m including it anyway). Great atmosphere in both. One Cathedral that hasn’t been mentioned is Ely near Cambridge.

This is exquisite with its octagonal lantern and very interesting west front. Many of you will have seen this on the cover of Pink Floyd’s album “The Division Bell”. Its certainly worth a look. Also, defending Winchester, it is one of my favourites as it is quite “cosy” inside if this makes sense. Also, FWIW the choir there is certainly world class and there are many really interesting buildings around the cathedral itself such as St. Cross, 2 castles within walking distance, city walls, medieval arches, chapels and a host of others. Sean McMullen As requested, here is a picture of the Darth Vader Gargoyle located atop the Washington National Cathedral, taken as close as I could get, from up on top of the ramparts outside around the North Tower.. Sean McMullen As requested, here is a picture of the Darth Vader Gargoyle located atop the Washington National Cathedral, taken as close as I could get, from up on top of the ramparts outside around the North Tower. alfredcaulkin i’d like to defend winchester cathedral. yes, there are engllish buildings that might call for attention because of their beauty such as york or salisbury, but winchester is unique.

winchester was the old capital of england when london was just an abandoned little roman garrison. subsequently the remains of generations of english kings and queens remain there, such as egbert, edward, emma, canute the dane, and william ii. it was the shrine of st swithun, but the reformation…and the extreme puritanical zeal of cromwell who with ISIS like determination to eliminate “idolatry”…anyway… architecturally, winchester is a much more interesting place than nearby salisbury cathedral. salisbury boast uniformity owing to it’s rapid completion, but wincester was built over several generations and reflects numerous building techniques and styles. Amish Coelho I would like to know how to draw these cathedrals with precision. Could you perhaps write an article on that? Pingback: The Most Instagrammed Locations | Busbud blog () Santiago Matamoros Wow! Thank you for including my hometown Cathedral of Santiago. I agree with comments that the best cathedrals must include interior and not only exterior. For example most of churches in France were pillaged during revolutionary years, it is certainly sad.

I also think Rome’s St Peter must be in any top10, probably Köln too and maybe Milano. I also heard very good things of Prague and Aachen. For any interested in my country Spain i would recommend Burgos and Toledo. Saul Jimenez Leon? Stephen Hard Pisa in the top ten? Depends on who’s and what list, but certainly worth considering. Stephen Hard Great article and comments! I’ve been to 6 of the 10 “cathedrals” and the others are on my must-see list. I am grateful for Bob’s list and my own observations are in the interest of discussion, not to suggest my list would be “better.” I would substitute Cologne, St. Peter’s in Rome and Pisa for Nidaros, St. Basil’s and the Washington National Cathedral. It seems to me a Cathedral/great church is worth experiencing for at least one of several reasons: its interior, its exterior, its siting, or its architectural or historical/cultural significance. The absolute best ones capture all of this. There are notable exceptions. The astounding siting and painfully exquisite exterior of Florence’s Duomo trumps any disappointment with its interior. On the other hand, St.

Basil’s does not make my list because the interior is not disappointing–its nonexistent! (Still very much worth seeing). Cologne is thrilling inside, outside and as a manifestation of German culture and persistent faith over 5 centuries. The Washington National Cathedral is not in the same league. The towers of Cologne were built in the 19th Century. Like the WNC they aren’t neo Gothic, but compare! To see St. Peter’s in Rome as “just big” is to miss the genius of Michelangelo’s original plan which manages to shine (literally) despite the changes made to it. Finally, I mention Pisa, which I think gets dismissed because of its overly popular leaning tower. The campo of Pisa with arcade, baptistery, cathedral and campanile (leaning tower) is breathtaking and, as far as I know, novel in the way the elements of the cathedral were made into a campus. Michaela Oberlaender Here is a photo of the Darth Vader gargoyle from Washington National Cathedral. I downloaded it via a Google image search, so I don’t have the rights to the photo, but you can at least see what it looks like.

I am disapointed that you did not include Cologne Cathedral in this list. Since it took 600+ years to build, making it the longest building project in human history, that ought to count for something! It is also the largest cathedral in Northern Europe, and features the shrine of the three wise men. It is definitely spectacular. As far as your English cathedrals go, I think if you had gone with your impulse for St. Paul’s in London, or checked out Salisbury Cathedral, you might have done even better. That is my opinion as an art history college professor. I am still trying to find out when people stopped having to stand in the nave and pews were institued in churches and cathedrals. Anyone know that? It was a fun list, though, so thank you! Amish Coelho Pugin deplores the addition of the pews in Gothic building, so I am sure it came to be used during the 17th century perhaps? Surely during the Baroque era, though I have no evidence of this, it seems like that would be the time, since the pews fight that architecture much better. Sly I have just seen your article…..have u EVER seen St.

John’s Cathedral in Valletta, Malta. The inside is nothing short of magnificent! I haven’t seen it – I’ll go do a little internet research – thanks for pointing it out to me. Susan London Doull I just read the whole list, and am astounded (and saddened) that no one mentioned the Cathedral of Amiens. Is this because no one has gone to Amiens? It is arguably the most interesting High Gothic Cathedral in France. With the laser cleaning of the facade now almost 20 years ago, it was discovered that its facade’s sculptural program was originally polychromed. Though they did not restore the colors, they did create a “son et lumière” performance, which projects the original colored glory on the facade on the summer evening light shows. Do not miss the interior sculpted choir stalls ripleyesq I’d definitely add the Great Cathedral and Mosque in Cardova, Spain, which has the unique distinction of integrating the Gothic and Moorish architecture in a fantastic amalgamation of color and styles. Unlike anything I’ve seen anywhere, including the Hagia Sofia.

Pingback: Religious Buildings | gemoomay () percy blakeney As you asked for some remarks about Winchester Cathedral… Yes there are others its equal and some that have been championed by various different ‘experts’ to suit their biases (in the past that has usually meant either Decorated or Early English). There’s plenty of great cathedrals out there (no one’s mentioned Canterbury, Salisbury or Gloucester). Anyway, Winchester’s a great example of an English Cathedral where the great length allows it to be split into a series of separate spaces, each with its own distinctive style rather than a single space as is common on the continent. It’s one of only two cathedral naves in the most distinctively English style, perpendicular, with a beautiful lierne vault as seen in your picture. The transepts are superb examples of Romanesque, as is the crypt. The choir and chancel feature a membranous fan vault of the perpendicular era. St Swithin’s shrine and the retrochoir are in Early English Gothic. The Lady Chapel is onece again perpendicular with another memorable fan vault.

There’s also several superb chantry chapels dedicated to such historical luminaries as William of Wykeham, Cardinal Beaufort, and Stephen Gardiner. Henry of Blois’s tomb is also there. There’s a great cadaver tomb effigy too.Great cathedral and a personal favourite. Noticed the jingoistic idiot comment earlier. Sorry about that. Just ignorance. The gothic legacies, let alone of all cathedrals architecture (!), of France, Germany and Spain are of course every bit as rich as England’s. The great thing about gothic architecture is that it adapted to local preferences wherever it went so it all has its own unique charms. As for your list. Well, there’s just so much to choose from. Regarding Norway, isn’t Trondheim good enough for you? How about St Magnus in Orkney for a left field choice? HJ777 I would add to your list (indeed, I would put it top) Durham Cathedral, which is not only Europe’s greatest Norman building, but has the most spectacular setting, along with Durham Castle, of any cathedral in the world. Arrive at Durham railway station and look across at the city – there is no cityscape in Europe like it.

You can never forget that view. Only Lincoln comes close. The gothic cathedral is just as extraordinary and is set on top of the ‘cliff’ of Lincoln above the low lying land to the west and south. Approach it from the south west and it looms above the landscape from tens of miles away. The side view of the cathedral, perched above the city is simply astonishing. And in the rest of Europe, Cologne, surely. Mmanfull What a fun and informative read this has been. I’m a lover of Gothic, especially the English variety. JUSTIN LITTELL Pingback: La Catedral Notre-Dame de Chartres, un hito francés | ClubViaje.com () JoeB in the USA that is……just as cool as some of the euro’s though prob not in sheer scale JoeB there is a little known & spectacularly magnificent cathedral in newark, NJ usa of all places…..in my opinion much nicer then any of the more well knowns Lel Lel ? I am in 8th grade and will build one of these (or others) for a project. I have visited two of these and a few more cathedrals already.

Asif Farid the big black box is only showing up in chrome. Asif Farid FIX YOUR SITE! i’ll guess this is on WordPress. check your plugins and stuff. this might be a popup or simply some add ware messing with the site. might even be a virus messin up the codes. Pablo One of my favorite Gaudi quotes is that “beauty is the glitter of truth”. Never more appropriate than when one visits these works of art. As a religious person (Catholic) I have always been taken by the great effort it took the community at that time to build such an incredible work. It is more of a monument to their spirituality of that time and that place than it is a marvel of construction. A friend of mine, a catholic missionary priest, commented that some of the more remarkable churches he had ever visited were the simple thatched huts in South America that the people had prepared for mass and community meetings. Which reminds me that the real beauty, were the people that were a part of these great buildings.

Pingback: A Photo Tour of Salisbury Cathedral | Life of an Architect () Felo Just as Chartres gives Notre Dame in Paris a run for its money, the Cathedral in Siena (Santa Maria Assunta) with its mosaic floors, Bernini’s gilded lantern, Piccolomini library, and early works by Michaelangelo and Donatello easily trumps the Florence’s Duomo. Anyone visiting Tuscany should make the comparison. Syrianus I fully agree. I just came from Florence and Siena. Florence’s Duomo, was a major dissapointment. Too much space, for no reason whatsoever. It’s architecture does not reveal anything. It is just huge (like the Vatican), with an intent to impress rather than reveal incorporeal realities through architecture. Siena comes much closer to this. Of course, nothing is to my mind comparable to Haghia Sophia. Even in its dilapatated state as a musuem with most mosaics gone, it is the absolute epitomy of Christian (and not only) architecture. When you enter the building, you feel like all of being is enclosed in this building. I have not found a single building to compare it with. Amiens Cathedral is as close as it gets.

The Vatican built 1,000 years after Haghia Sophia, isn’t even in the same league. Gillian A beautiful cathedral is the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. The largest Anglican Cathedral in Europe. Deepak Bhandari I was very impressed the Church of Europe when i was attending RI convention in Portugal ,2013. Specially Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Sagrada Familia). I would like to visit the church once again . For this i need the invitation of the church to apply from here. so please …., if it possible please send it on my email address: antivirus_02004@yahoo.com Wannabeartiste I regret that I have no comment to compare from the eloquent and articulate submissions below. I must say how much I enjoyed looking at these exquisite photos of such majestic cathedrals which seem so larger than life to us humans but represent only a small speck comared to the infinite beauty that is Almighty God. But I am so grateful to God for giving those very talented humans the architectural monuments that celebrate His Glory and Greatness. Well, I outdid myself.

I didn’t think I would be able to come up with a comment as intelligent as this one. Anyone thanks so much for sharing your photos with us. I wish more of these types of sites were available on the “net”. Addict So many Cathedrals to choose from! A good worldwide list though Bob. I’ve visited most of the medieval cathedrals in Uk and some in Europe, and I’d like to recommend a book if you’ve never read it – The Cathedrals of England by Alec Clifton-Taylor. For my money the best book on the English Cathedrals from an art historical viewpoint. For the record Clifton-Taylor rates Lincoln and Wells as his favourites, and I agree. The only one on your list that I’d strongly disagree with, and that I’ve been to is the sagrada familia in Barcelona. Last time I visited it was a building site. Ben Parker Not a well-known cathedral, but one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen: The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Dali, Yunnan Province, China. Built in the 18th century by Jesuit missionaries; fantastic combination of Chinese with Western sacred architecture.

DJ hard to say since I don’t know where you are located … so I’m going to say any one of the catholic cathedrals listed in this post would be wonderful to attend mass Robert Hi Bob We have visited 44 Cathedrals in our travels over 40 years. The ones that stay in our minds are; Ely and Koln (Cologne). If you need any Pics we have lots, let me know what you need and I will try to help. If you want to pick out your single most favorite image from both Ely and Koln, I can use them in the current list of cathedrals I am making. bob@lifeofanarchitect.com is the address you should use Wendy Beauvais, France will also be worth your time. Ben10 Awesome cathedrals in 7th grade and doing one of these for my project Bill Reeves Thanks Bill – this is a good bucket list but if I can get to more I certainly would like it Rachel If you want a breathtaking cathedral in the UK then I would have chosen York Minster.

From the outside to each inside corner, it is amazing and is also full of pre-cathedral history in its foundations dating back to the 4th century AD and earlier. If you want a modern and unique cathedral then the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is worth a look, even if it isn’t as detailed and historical as others. David Jones My own top ten that i have fond memories of and have been lucky to visit. In no particular order 1. Seville. For the giralda alone i would place it here. 2. Cologne. The big daddy of the gothic cathedrals. Will never forget first seeing this magnificent edifice. Imo top 5 structure in the world. 3. Santa Maria Del Fiore, Florence. An architectural wonder. Stunning from every single angle. 4. Strasbourg. 5. Alexander Nevsky, Tallinn. The only orthodox cathedral i have seen, impressive but no doubt bettered by its Russian and Ukrainian peers. 6. Cadiz. A baroque masterpiece, in the most delighful of squares and framed almost always by a cobalt blue sky. 7. La Sagrada familia. 8. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul 9.

Cathedral of Lima (at night, a wonderful sight) 10. Cathedral of Orvieto, Italy. Top cathedrals dont have to be in major cities, Perched up high atop an Umbrian hillside, this Romanesque-Gothic cathedral has the most fantastic golden tinted facade which sparkles on a sunny afternoon. Photos do not do this wonder justice. Also has very Impressive frescoes of the last judgement by Signorelli, Michaelangelo studied here and is thought to have had a significant influence upon the great man. I will give a sneaky mention to the cathedral of Cordoba, … but mostly because it was placed slap bang in the heart of the jewel that is the Mezquita! Andy Bittner To add more material on Washington National Cathedral… The Darth Vader carving, high on the east face of the northwest tower, is the result of a contest the Cathedral held in conjunction with National Geographic’s children’s magazine, World, for children to design cathedral art. Four entries were chosen. The first three chosen entries were original art (after all it WAS a design competition), but the fourth entry was chosen from a suggestion that was more intellectual than artistic.

A young man named Chris Raeder (I have no idea if the rhyme was a factor) suggested that there were so many odd, vaguely evil looking sculptures on the outside of the ancient cathedrals, at which we are guessing today, put Darth on Washington National Cathedral and let people guess about him in 1,000 years. In the years I’ve been working and guiding at Washington National Cathedral, I’ve also has some additional thoughts on the matter. While I’m not suggesting that George Lucas had Christianity in mind, when he devised “The Force”, Anakin Skywalker is a great example of a deathbed redemption, an alternative fondly regarded in most Christian sects. Furthermore, I’ve decided that -Washington National Cathedral being a Christian church, where forgiveness is paramount- we probably shouldn’t even call him Darth Vader. Maybe we should just call him “Anakin Skywalker in a bad moment”. The moon rock in the Space Window, pictured elsewhere in this Comments thread, is just one example of the many thought-provoking stones incorporated into Washington National Cathedral’s fabric.

Beginning with the first Episcopal bishop of Washington, The Right Reverend Henry Yates Satterlee (whose dream it was that WNC would be a Gothic building), there was a recognition that, as a Protestant Christian church, Washington National Cathedral did not have its own roots in Rome (as did all of WNC’s ancient Gothic siblings), and would lack, somehow, for the absence of relics. While there is no arguing that some rock in a Protestant church is theologically the same as a Roman Catholic relic, Satterlee felt the presence of thought-provoking stones from great places in Christian, American and world history might strike a similar chord in our hearts and souls. As a result, Washington National Cathedral’s pulpit is built from stones that were originally part of the Bell Harry Tower at Canterbury Cathedral. The main altar is 12 stones, quarried at Solomon’s Quarry in Jerusalem, from which, legend suggests, Solomon’s Temple was quarried. In the floor in front of the altar are ten stones from the Chapel of Moses on Mt. Sinai. Symbolically, the Jerusalem Altar stands founded on the Ten Commandments. The official seat of the Episcopal Bishop of Washington is the Glastonbury Cathedra.

The stones for that chair come from the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, legendary birthplace of Christianity in the British isles. More recently, the stones-as-“relics” concept was carried forward by The Very Reverend Francis B. Sayre Jr., sixth dean of the Cathedral. Among other pieces of important stone or masonry at Washington National Cathedral there are pieces of stone from Westminster Abbey, from Cologne Cathedral, from St. David’s Cathedral in Wales, raw stone from Mt. Sinai, a carved first-century stone from the Appian Way in Rome, a brick from the first (1607) church in Jamestown, Virginia, and, of course, the great secular relic of the 20th century, a piece of the moon. johannes nissen Istanbul, Agia sofia (+ 1500 y/o) 2. Best gothic cathedral – Cologne (although built over 500 years), Reims, Antwerp, ‘s Hertogenbosch/Burgos, in that order. ( 1000 to 600 y/o) 3. Best renaissance: The one in New York.

But a marvellous tribute to the gothic cathedrals nonetheless! In my personal opinion, the epithomy of gothic style is pure unparalleled etsthetics (enormous windows, light structure, sharp edges) alignemend with physical behaviour of building materials (stone, lead, wood), water drainment (arches), and workers ingenuity. To me, lots of its worth is in the story and context of the people who got so much effort in in (albeit forced, etc, as under every sociological system).

UNESCO World Heritage Center - State of Conservation (SOC 1994) Burgos Cathedral (Spain) Factors * affecting the property identified in previous reports No appropriate institutional arrangements between the national, regional and local authorities Lack of maintenance International Assistance: requests for the property until 1994 Requests approved: 0 Total amount approved : 0 USD Missions to the property until 1994 ** Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1994 Report prepared by ICOMOS Burgos Cathedral, Spain (C 316) Background The construction of the cathedral of Santa-Maria de Burgos began in 1221 and was completed in 1567. It embodies the diverse trends of four centuries of European Gothic style. It was included in the World Heritage List in November 1984 on the basis of criteria ii, iv, and vi. At that time it was recognized that Santa-Maria de Burgos decisively influenced architecture and the visual arts .both.

in Spain and Western Europe, that it was an outstanding example of an episcopal ensemble while bearing witness to the creative genius of architects and craftsmen who worked on it, and that it is inseparably linked with the history of the Reconquest and the achievement of Spanish unity. The current position In December 1993, on the occasion of the 17th Meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Cartagena (Colombia), it was reported that information from local and national authorities in Spain confirmed the setting up of a multidisciplinary advisory council (building committee) which had drafted a Master Plan setting out the priorities for restoration and all other work on Burgos Cathedral. Between 1989 and 1993 the press in the region of Castille paid much attention to the future of Burgos Cathedral, protected as it is by Spanish legislation governing historic monuments since 8 April 8 1885 and by the World Heritage Convention since 2 November 1984. The combination of increased degradation of the exterior of the Cathedral and haphazard restoration campaigns initiated by the Burgos Chapter that were lacking any technical or scientific control by the Spanish Government gave rise to very heated debate on the issue.

This debate was fed by the regional media, who also acted as a forum for public opinion. ICOMOS accordingly requested its Spanish National Committee to prepare a report on the situation for submission to the World Heritage Committee. This controversy unfolded in a very tense political atmosphere owing to the coming into force of decentralization legislation, as a result of which responsibility for heritage matters was transferred from the Ministry of Culture to the regional authorities. The central government still has a role to play in the technical and scientific aspects of these matters. In order more efficiently to protect its threatened heritage, the Ministry of Culture implemented a National Plan for the Protection of Hispanic Cathedrals in 1990 with a budget of 140 million pesetas. This plan was presented to the international community during a symposium on "The conservation of European cathedrals" in Madrid. This places Spain well within current trends in European heritage. The plan sets forth the prerequisites for the implementation of priority restoration programmes for each Spanish cathedral and for the creation of an inventory of all works of art within them.

It also requires all chapters, within the framework of the Iaw, to set up a multidisciplinary advisory council (building committee) which will compile the Master Plan defining the scope of future restoration campaigns. No exceptions to this rule will be tolerated and non-compliance will be sanctioned by freezing of State subsidies. The Ministry of Culture wished to have Burgos Cathedral spearhead this new policy in the field of heritage. Two conflicts arose almost immediately. First, the Chapter of Burgos Cathedral was very reluctant to set up an advisory council until 1992. Secondly, the Regional Government of Castille and Leon refused to sign an agreement with the central government providing for the latter to finance and perform all preliminary studies preceding the actual restoration work, the financial burden of the works themselves being borne by the regional government. The disputes which arose among the various parties (Ministry of Culture, Regional Government of Castille and Leon, and the Chapter) resulted in the cancelling of subsidies and therefore the + intenance of the status quo of a building the condition of which required action in the very near term.

The Burgos Cathedral restoration issue, as it has been termed, made the front pages again in February 1992 when Antonio Mas-Guindai, Assistant General Manager for Heritage at the Culture Ministry, stated that the Cathedral of Santa Maria would be removed from the World Heritage List if the "uncontrolled restoration measures of recent years applied to this monument were to continue". At the same time, the Ministry of Culture decided to dismiss Marcos Rico Santamaria the man who had been the architect of the cathedral for 17 years. After several years of indecision, the Chapter finally decided in April 1993 to set up a multidisciplinary advisory council, made up of representatives of the Ministry of Culture, the Castille and Leon Regional Government, the museums of Burgos, and the Humanities Department of the University of Burgos. Lena Salarlina Iglesias, Professor of Art History at the University, was made responsible for the preliminary technical studies for the restoration work. At the same time, an inquiry into the "stone disease" at the Cathedral was financed by the Iaterministerial Committee for Science and Technology in 1992.

The multidisciplinary team of scientists included geologists and biologists from the Institute for the Restoration of Cultural Properties, the Regional Government of Castille and Leon, and the Universities of Salamanca and Oviedo. Rosa Maria Isbert, Professor of Geology at the University of Oviedo, was put in charge of the pilot project intended to establish standards for the study of other Spanish cathedrals. The major thrust of this programme was the search for a proper balance between the tawascape of Burgos and the conservation of the cathedral. According to Rosa Maria ïsbert, there are a number of vectors responsible for the damage to the Hontaria de la Cantera calcareous stone, the principal material used in the construction of the cathedral: air pollution, excessive humidity causing efflorescence, lichen, and fungi, and the most serious cause, a colony of bacteria. The issues of coordinating actions and respective roles with regard to the cathedral have now been solved, paving the way for a comprehensive evaluation of the future of the cathedral and several concrete actions plans. The Ministry of Culture, the Regional Government of Castille and Leon, and the Chapter have signed an agreement for the implementation of technical specifications for emergency restoration measures.

It provides for the restoration of the towers, spires, ridges, part of the altars, and the stained glass windows as well as the solving of problems caused by humidity. Roughly 14 million pesetas have been earmarked for this programme. Scaffolding is already in place. The two architects managing the site are Dionisio Hernandez Gil and Pio Garcia Escudero. The inquiry into stone disease is being pursued at the Petrology Department of Oviedo University. A number of Hispano-Flemish paintings of the 15th and 16th centuries are also undergoing restoration. The Ministry of Culture has stated that at the present time Burgos Cathedral is the most carefully studied cathedral in all Spain. All the other restoration measures will be implemented within the framework of the Advisory Council's Master Plan, which is currently being drafted. A preliminary study has already been carried out. The Burgos Chapter has launched an appeal to patrons of the arts in order that part of the works may be carried out more quickly (through, for example, concerts).

The Banesto Foundation has made a pledge to the Chapter to fund the restoration of the interior of the Condestable's Chapel, and the Burgos Savings Bank is to back another restoration campaign. The Municipality of Burgos is further protecting the immediate environment of the cathedral by closing virtually the entire quarter to car traffic. First the Plaza Santa-Maria and the Calle de la Paloma, and now the Calle Fernand Gonzales, are open only to pedestrians. Recommendation ICOMOS recommends that the Bureau should congratulate the various Spanish organizations involved on resolving the impasse regarding Burgos Cathedral. At the same time, however, it should express a desire to see those components of the total project which are still under negotiation put into effect with the minimum delay. For its part, ICOMOS will continue, through its National Committee, to monitor the progress of the project and will report further to later meetings of the World Heritage Committee and Bureau.

Durham Cathedral and Castle, United Kingdom (C 370) Ironbridge Gorge, United Kingdom (C 371) Studley Royal Park and Fountains Abbey, United Kingdom (C 372) Stonehenge, Avebwy and associated sites (C 373) Blenheim Palace, United Kingdom (C 425) The City of Bath, United Kingdom (C 428) Hadrian's Wall, United Kingdom (C 430) Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church, United Kingdom (C 426) The Tower of London, United Kingdom (C 488) Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church, United Kingdom (C496) At the request of the Department of National Heritage, and with 50 % financial support, the UK National Committee of ICOMOS has been carrying out monitoring of the ten UK cultural inscriptions on the World Heritage List situated in England. The detailed reports are currently (June 1994) still in draft form.

The full final reports and recommendations will be presented to the 18th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in December 1994. Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1994 At its last session, the Bureau congratulated the various Spanish organizations involved in the actions taken for the conservation of Burgos Cathedral. At the same time, however, it expressed a desire to see those components of the total project which are still under negotiation put into effect with the minimum delay. In August 1994, a statue fell off the facade of the cathedral and ICOMOS was requested by the World Heritage Centre to assess the state of conservation of the cathedral and make sure that preventive measures are taken. Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1994 The Committee may wish to request ICOMOS to keep the Secretariat informed of any further developments.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1994 Adopted Read more The Committee recalled that the Bureau at its eighteenth session congratulated the various Spanish organizations involved in the actions taken for the conservation of Burgos Cathedral and that it, at the same time, expressed a desire to see those components of the total project which were still under negotiation put into effect with the minimum delay. The Committee noted that in August 1994, a statue fell off the façade of the cathedral and requested ICOMOS to continue to monitor the state of conservation of the cathedral and to report its findings to the nineteenth session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee. Spain Nomination records (Year): 1983 , 2013 , 2014 Category: Cultural Burgos cathedral: monuments in Burgos at Spain is culture. Website One of the finest examples of Spanish Gothic art. This cathedral is outstanding for the elegance and harmony of its architecture, and it is the only one in Spain which, for its cathedral building alone, has received the UNESCO World Heritage designation.

Although it is predominantly Gothic, the cathedral also displays other artistic styles, given that it was built over a period lasting from 1221 to 1795. Its main façade is the Puerta del Perdón, with a starred rose-window and a gallery of statues of the Castile monarchs. On either side are its 84-metre towers, crowned by magnificent 15th century spires with open stonework traceries. Its most beautiful group of sculptures, however, is to be found on the Puerta del Sarmental façade, with the image of a Pantocrator surrounded by the apostles and evangelists. Inside, special mention should be made of the dome of the main nave, topped with a beautiful Mudéjar vault. Beneath it lie the remains of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as ‘El Cid Campeador’, and his wife, Doña Jimena. Close by you will find the beautiful Escalera Dorada golden staircase by Diego de Siloé, built in the 16th century and inspired in the Italian Renaissance.

In the side-naves of the cathedral there are 19 chapels, with the Condestable and Santa Tecla chapels standing out especially. There are also valuable works of art to be enjoyed: a unique collection that includes altarpieces, paintings, choir stalls, tombs and sculptures, amongst other objects. Practical information Burgos | Castilla y León and La Rioja Guide | Rough Guides Europe » Spain » Castilla y León and La Rioja » Burgos BURGOS was the capital of Old Castile for almost five hundred years, the home of El Cid in the eleventh century, and the base, two centuries later, of Fernando III, the reconqueror of Murcia, Córdoba and Seville. It was Fernando who began the city’s famous Gothic cathedral, one of the greatest in all Spain, and Burgos is a firm station on the pilgrim route. During the Civil War, Franco temporarily installed his Fascist government in the city and Burgos owes much of its modern expansion to Franco’s “Industrial Development Plan”, a strategy to shift the country’s wealth away from Catalunya and the Basque Country and into Castile.

Even now, such connotations linger – the Capitanía General building still displays a 1936 plaque (admittedly, under protective glass) honouring Franco, the “supreme authority of the nation”. But Burgos is also a changed city, much scrubbed and restored over the last few years due to its candidature for European City of Culture for 2016 ( burgos2016.es ). Every paving stone in the centre looks to have been relaid, and while it’s no longer a clearly medieval city, the handsome buildings, squares and riverfront of the old town are an attractive prospect for a night’s stay. Despite the encroaching suburban sprawl and a population of almost 200,000, when it comes down to it, Burgos really isn’t that big. You can easily see everything in the centre in a day, and while its lesser churches inevitably tend to be eclipsed by the cathedral, the two wonderful monasteries on the outskirts are by no means overshadowed. Find out more

Question: The Burgos Cathedral is in which European country?
Answer: Spain